How I Learned to Love the Celebrity Scent

It was quite a scene: An older, smartly dressed woman was YELLING at me from across Sixth Avenue, shouting "Young lady! Young lady!" I thought I had dropped something in the street or had toilet paper dragging off my shoe, but once we locked eyes she screamed, "What are you WEARING?? Your perfume!!!"

I had to respond, er, SCREAM: "Curious! Britney Spears!"

She looked like she was going to faint. I was initially embarrassed—my friends were laughing at me and onlookers appeared bemused—but that day I realized that some of the most delightful scents come in unexpected celebrity packages.

Hate country? You might love Shania Twain's scent. Celine Dion working your nerves? You may still be into her scent. Here, my favorite celebrity picks:

__Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds __ This stuff is strong, people. Neroli and tuberose are heady ingredients to begin with, but worn out to a fancy dinner or evening wedding, it reads as textbook glamour. (One spritz, please! You don't want to kill your dinner companion, do you?)

Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker. SJP said she was inspired by the geraniums in New York's flower markets when creating this fragrance. Geraniums smell especially earthy, so Covet actually has this dark, mysterious edge to it. A splash of lemon and some cocoa notes keep the scent from getting too serious.

Glow by J.Lo. It doesn't really smell like perfume. It's more like your skin after you've stepped out of the shower and have washed up with a very fragrant soap. If you like musk, you'll probably like this.

Kate by Kate Moss. Don't worry, it's coming, it's coming! I tried out this scent on a recent jaunt to England, and the smoky rose notes were sexy and complicated. Finally, something that lives up to the hype.

And of course....

Curious by Britney Spears . Promise you'll try to forget everything you know about our fallen pop star, and just INHALE. Anjou pear, water lotus and vanilla feel so right on a spring day. The scent was optimistic when it came out, and now it just feels nostalgic.